Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDP) 4th Ordinary Congress kicked off in Ankara Sports Hall. HDP Vice Co-Chair Barış Azad made the opening speech of the congress before the election council. Barış said: "Today we are carrying out a very meaningful meeting. There will be a strong outlet to respond to everyone. In this important junction of history, we send our greetings from Serhat to Amed, from the Black Sea to Europe, Australia and to all of Kurdistan. We salute all our comrades once more. We promise you that HDP will win, peoples will win"

 

Then the congress election took place. Tülay Hatimoğulları and Mehmet Rüştü Tiryaki was elected the Co-Chairs of the council. Tülay Hatimoğulları said: "We are holding our congress in a period when our country's freedoms and humans' rights are necrotised. Poverty deepens. Violence against women increases. The mentality that imposes violence on the Kurdish problem, sees war fit to the people in Iraq and Syria. If we unite we are not helpless as the oppressed people of this country. The solution is the unity of democracy forces and the synergy it creates.

 

Hatimoğulları ended her words, saying: "Salut you those who resist in İmralı, Kandıra and Edirne and in all the dungeons of this country. Salut you!"

 

Mehmet Tiryaki stated that this congress will be a congress of hope and unity.

 

At the congress, a moment of silence was held for those who lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and democracy. The congress continues with the speech of HDP Co-Chair Sezai Temelli.

 

HDP has 18 registered delegates and they came to Ankara the day before today.  In the congress, which will continue throughout the day, authorized bodies such as HDP Co-chairs, 100 permanent members, 50 associate members, central discipline committee, commission of conciliation will be elected.